INTER-SECTION Volume III - Page 22

| Bo K.H. Schubert |
1
Many reliefs are now located in different
museums all over the world. During the 20 th century,
many scholars were dedicated to trace these reliefs and
to reconstruct their original positions (Kertai 2014, 338).
These reconstructions were mainly based on the original
excavation reports. Furthermore, sawn off reliefs could
be connected to the bases that were still in situ, and new
excavations were carried out that yielded several in situ
reliefs (Russell 1998, 658). Although some details are
still under debate, this extensive work is now considered
2
The administrative area was built around the
secretaries and several storage rooms (Barjamovic 2012,
31; Mallowan 1966, 172). The private area was only
accessible for the royal family and their servants. Two
rooms were adorned with wall paintings with geometric
patterns and a depiction of the king with his servants and
prisoners (Kertai 2015, 43).
3
Unfortunately, we do not know what was
stored in these rooms, but their primary function seemed
to have been protection against humidity (Kertai 2015,
195).
4
The Standard-Inscription mentions the ancestry
of the king and his achievements as a king (Paley 1976,
125-133). There is no clear explanation of its function,
but several interpretations are given by Russell (1999):
1. The inscription served as a label of property (229); 2.
The inscription was a means of decoration (229-300); 3.
Since the Standard-Inscription bears a royal message, it
was used to give every room and/or monument a royal
appearance (300).
5
Genii
depicted assisting the king while performing rituals
(Black and Green 1992, 86). The king can also be assisted
by his servants, which were all eunuchs.
6
The Sacred tree is often associated with
genii, or
depictions of the king. However, three interpretations
of the Sacred Tree exist: 1. It represents the ‘tree of life’
known from Genesis 2-3; 2. It represents a stylized date
palm; 3. It is not a tree at all, but a cult object (Giovino
2007, 2-3).
7
A lamassu
bull or lion body, and a human head and wings.
8
Suggested further reading: Kertai 2014.
9
Paley and Sobolewski (1987, 76, 78-79)
the west-wing, but were not able to assign these to
particular rooms. Some of these reliefs could have also
been located on the north-wall of the throneroom.
Bibliography
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Iraq 56, 123-33.
Ataç, M., 2010. The Mythology of Kingship in Neo-
Assyrian Art. New York: Cambridge University Press.
p. 20 | VOL III | INTER-SECTION | 2017
Barjamovic, G., 2011. Pride, Pomp and Circumstance:
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